Speed is a fundamental measurement that describes how fast an object moves, expressed as distance traveled per unit of time. Speed conversions are essential for travel, sports, engineering, and understanding motion in different contexts. Whether you're checking vehicle speed limits, calculating running pace, or working with scientific data, understanding speed units is crucial.
Speed is a derived unit, calculated by dividing distance by time. This means speed conversions involve converting both the distance component and understanding the time unit. Common speed units combine different distance and time units, creating various conversion factors.
Metric Units: Kilometers per hour (km/h) is the most common metric speed unit for everyday use. Meters per second (m/s) is used in scientific and engineering applications. One km/h equals approximately 0.278 m/s, or 1 m/s equals 3.6 km/h.
Imperial Units: Miles per hour (mph) is the standard unit in the United States for vehicle speeds and general use. Feet per second (ft/s) is sometimes used in engineering. One mph equals approximately 1.609 km/h or 1.467 ft/s.
Specialized Units: Knots (nautical miles per hour) are used in aviation and maritime applications. Mach number (speed relative to sound) is used in aeronautics. Light speed is used in physics and astronomy.
Kilometers per Hour and Miles per Hour: Use for vehicle speeds, running pace, cycling speed, and general motion. These are the most common units for everyday speed measurements.
Meters per Second: Ideal for scientific calculations, physics problems, and engineering applications where precise measurements are needed. Also used for describing very slow or very fast speeds where km/h or mph become unwieldy.
Knots: Essential for aviation (aircraft speeds) and maritime navigation (ship speeds). One knot equals one nautical mile per hour, approximately 1.151 mph or 1.852 km/h.
For quick mental conversions, remember: 1 mph ≈ 1.6 km/h, 1 km/h ≈ 0.62 mph, and 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h. When traveling, speed limit signs show km/h in most countries and mph in the United States. Understanding these conversions helps ensure safe driving when traveling internationally.
In sports, pace is often expressed as time per distance (e.g., minutes per mile or minutes per kilometer) rather than speed. To convert pace to speed, divide 60 by the pace in minutes per unit distance. For example, a 6-minute mile pace equals 10 mph.
Convert between various units of speed, including meters per second, kilometers per hour, miles per hour, and more.
Multiply the number of miles per hour by 1.60934 to get kilometers per hour.
kph = mph × 1.60934
Example: 60 mph × 1.60934 = 96.5604 kph
Multiply the number of meters per second by 3.6 to get kilometers per hour.
km/h = m/s × 3.6
Example: 10 m/s × 3.6 = 36 km/h
Multiply the number of kilometers per hour by 0.621371 to get miles per hour.
mph = km/h × 0.621371
Example: 100 km/h × 0.621371 = 62.1371 mph
How do you convert mph to kph?
Multiply mph by 1.60934. For example, 60 mph × 1.60934 = 96.5604 kph.
What is the formula for m/s to km/h?
Multiply meters per second by 3.6. For example, 10 m/s × 3.6 = 36 km/h.
How do you convert km/h to mph?
Multiply km/h by 0.621371. For example, 100 km/h × 0.621371 = 62.1371 mph.
What is speed conversion?
Speed conversion is the process of changing speed values from one unit to another, such as from miles per hour to kilometers per hour.
How many km/h is 1 mph?
1 mph is equal to 1.60934 km/h.
